HRH the Princess Mother remains in the hearts of the Thai People

Her efforts were paramount in persuading others to join in and assist, and over the years more than 300 schools were built along Thai borders as well as implementing volunteer medical teams, which provide free services to communities in remote areas.

In time, the Princess Mother established a Royal Foundation supporting the volunteer medical activities under the name of “HRH Sri Nagarindra Volunteer Medical Foundation”.

Another achievement orchestrated by HRH Princess Nagarindra involved dental health services being provided to rural locations following a survey showing 63% having gum disease. The Princess Mother’s activities were instrumental in increasing the awareness of personal health and also influenced the establishment of “National Dental Health Day” recognised on October 21 every year.

The Princess Mother’s own health started to wane in 1991, with several periods of hospitalisation until March 1995, when she entered the Siriraj Hospital for care and passed away at 9.17 pm on 18 July 1995. The funeral ceremony of the beloved Princess Mother was held at the Royal Palace and her body lay in state up to the cremation ceremony on 10 March 1996, to allow visitors to bring flowers and wreaths, showing their grief at the country’s great loss.

The Princess Mother was raised to the rank of Somdetch Phra Baromma with the right to seven levels of royal umbrellas during the reign of her son His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej the Great.

The Thai government pronounced that the year 2000, the centenary of her birth, is a special year commemorating and honouring the late Princess Mother - HRH Princess Sri Nagarindra Bromrachachoni.

Chonburi Governor briefed on Water Treatment Facility progress

YOU are going to pay for it!

Chonburi Governor Sujarit Prachimnan met with Mayor Pairat Suttithamrongsawat and representatives from the Samprasit Construction Company and the Macro Consultant Company discussing the preparations remaining to support the operation of the 1.8 billion baht water treatment facility.

Governor Sujarit Pachimnan investigates the cause of the delay in the completion of the water treatment facility

Following two time extensions the much needed water treatment facility is now scheduled to be completed and operational in November of this year. The next 3-4 months are considered crucial and the Chonburi Governor received a progress update at the construction site.

The finished water treatment facility is expected to solve most of the environmental issues in Pattaya affecting business and the tourist industry.

The Ministry of Science and Environmental Technology and the Macro Consultants Company suggested that Pattaya city administration must decide how to collect the user costs once the facility becomes operational. The initial suggestion claimed that the water treatment costs would increase by eight million baht per year.

A separate water treatment bill from the office of Regional Water-Works is now under consideration, charging users for water treatment costs at a rate equivalent to 85% of their day to day water usage. This method would collect nearly 50 million baht per year compared to 10 million baht currently collected.

Chonburi Governor Sujarit said no further extensions will be allowed and if the Samprasit Construction Company meets up with any obstacles delaying the November completion date to alert him immediately and methods to resolve the problem will be found. The Governor also announced that if the construction company is unable to complete the project by November he is ready to fine the company 1,700,000 baht each day until it is completed.

The Governor also wanted information circulated throughout the city emphasising the importance of the water treatment facility and stressing the need to clean up the waters in Pattaya Bay - and preparing every resident in the community for the added costs.

Representatives from Macro Consultants and the Samprasit Construction Company reported that work inspectors have confirmed the laying of pipes and the power source are all in place and should be finished this month. The only remaining problem is the PS7 pumping station near the pier in South Pattaya, which has been delayed waiting official approvals from the Pier Authority. Roads, buildings, utilities and other associated works at the water treatment site itself are currently near 90% complete and expected to be finalised within the next 2-3 months and thereafter the operation will be turned over to the city administration.

Doctor Yuwaree Inna, Director of Environmental Controls from the Ministry of Science and Environmental Technology, said that up to 40 million baht per year would be required to support the operation of the water treatment facility and suggested the new method of collecting service costs at the rate of 85% of everyone’s water bill would probably be adequate for continual operation.

The city administration has come up with a new plan for a private company to oversee the operation for the first two years to obtain a clearer understanding of the actual costs of operating the facility and service rates. At the end of the two-year period it may be discovered the costs are even less than Macro Consultants and the Science Ministry anticipated. Of course, on the other hand, it may not!

Another fatality involving bull elephants

Elephants never forget

A man was gored in the chest at the Suan Chang Resort in Jomtien by an elephant and was pronounced dead on arrival at the Bangkok-Pattaya Hospital. The resort manager, Somkhid Ounryan, explained that the deceased, Oun Intsanran, age 50, was visiting his relatives working at the Suan Chang Resort and he was the younger brother of the bull elephant’s mahout. On investigation, it turned out that Oun was known to have mistreated the elephant, Plai Yokie, years before and the beast remembered the torment he suffered from the man. A few days before the incident, Plai Yokie was seen throwing stones at Oun as he walked by.

Plai Yokie is chained to a tree after having gored Mr. Oun to death

Oun was known to be a heavy drinker and just prior to the confrontation, when Plai Yokie was eating pineapple, Oun took the fruit away from the elephant and gave it to another of the resort’s elephants. This apparently enraged Plai Yokie who attacked Oun inflicting fatal injuries.

The following morning Deputy Mayor Wutisak Reumkichakarn and a group of officials found the elephant had already been sent back to Surin. A large quantity of empty bottles of alcohol were noticed and after talking with a number of mahouts it was discovered they drink every night and sometimes even open a bottle in the morning.

Deputy Mayor Wutisak feels it may be necessary to impose even stricter regulations on the elephant businesses in Pattaya by prohibiting the consumption of alcohol before another incident occurs from maltreatment and an elephant with good memory.

Underwear thief goes underground

The alarming but elusive case of the “knicker-nicker”

Aside from the usual criminal activity encountered in Pattaya there is one person who has found a different outlet for demonstrating his or her personal frustration, involving a fetish for women’s undergarments.

The Pratamnak lingerie laundry line

Females in the Pratamnak area have been reporting missing panties, nylon stockings and bras to police for the past few months but have received little sympathy from the local police force. Some brief investigation followed the brief thief reports but no one has been nicked.

The thefts are so prevalent that conversation amongst women in Pratamnak has changed from lottery losses to lingerie losses. Even the male population are becoming concerned in case the thief turns to Y fronts.

Local News media got wind of the undiscovered underwear and mounted their own investigation. Residents directed the investigative reporters to a secluded Soi and told them to follow the path into the undergrowth. A few volunteered to lead them part of the way but refused to go all the way, fearing the “panty pincher” might be in the area.

Further down, the reporters came upon a clutch of female undergarments hung on barbed wire in the tree branches. Every type of panty, bra and female frippery imaginable was hanging in the breeze. The underwear tree was carrying more than 500 prized specimens.

The reporters decided to hide in the area to see if the deviant would return, but the longer they waited the more nervous they became, and soon departed leaving the collected treasures behind. The residents expressed genuine fear, saying everyone in the area stayed on a constant guard, securing their ‘smalls’, not knowing just how disturbed the thief was or what else the person was capable of doing. The residents realise that the police have their hands full with a full range of criminal activity in Pattaya, but no underwear undermines the very underpinnings of Pratamnak society.

Irate tourist wallops bar girl

There was no tickle with this slap!

Pattaya police were called to the Venus Rock and Roll Bar near Soi 2 in North Pattaya following a reported altercation between a tourist and a bar girl.

Police officers arrived finding the tourist outnumbered and in a heated confrontation with a throng of secretaries on the night shift. The police broke up the fracas and ended up taking the tourist and one young lady to the police station to clear up the incident.

At the station, Miss Jaruwan Miliwan claimed the tourist firmly grasped her wrist as she was idly standing nearby, and then struck her in the face for no justifiable reason. Thomas Greenwin, from Germany, admitted to drinking excessively and claimed he did not recall hitting Jaruwan. He said the last thing he remembered was walking along the street and meeting up with a group of girls who started persuading him to come in and have a drink. Jaruwan retold the incident to refresh his memory and after listening to Jaruwan’s accusations, Thomas gave in and apologised. He offered her 1,000 Baht to compensate for his alleged rude behaviour. Jaruwan beamed at the offer and accepting his apology decided not to press charges. Thomas received an additional fine of 200 Baht for causing the disturbance. We wonder if the next drink he had was on Miss Miliwan.

Three men arrested for impersonating police and army officers

Jenny not impressed by men in uniform!

Three men claiming to be police and army officers came to the Jenny Beer Bar in South Pattaya and threatened the owner, saying charges would be brought against her unless she came up with bribe money.

When police arrived Jenny told police two of the three men identified themselves as police officers and the third man claimed to be an army officer. They told her to hand over 2,000 baht or they would close her bar down for staying open after 2.00 am.

A search of the impersonator’s vehicle produced a number of items of military clothing. The vehicle was also unregistered. The would be soldier, Paitun Puttima, admitted to never being in the military but fancied wearing the uniform with the rank of Lieutenant to impress others.

The second, Wudipong Tochern confessed to being a former boxer in the beer bar rings and not the police driver for the Assistant Inspector of Pattaya Police, as he had claimed, while the third, Winai Manthong explained that his former profession was a hotel security guard and he was not in fact the Assistant Inspector from the Pattaya Police Station.

All three men were charged for impersonating government officials, using fake documents and also attempted extortion.

Cat burglars caught “cat-napping”

Banglamung police were notified that two thieves were in the process of robbing the Laem Chabang Apartments in Banglamung.

The two cat burglars were still standing in front of the row of apartments holding a large bag when police arrived and local residents identified them as the burglars. Police officers found a Panasonic video camera in the bag with two battery packs, a charging unit, a large knife and a jacket. Three Buddha images were also found in their possession.

The dynamic duo were identified as Wornkij Khanmuang, aged 24, and his female accomplice Sumalee Naina, aged 27. Wornkij confessed to the burglary, however insisted that Sumalee was not involved, but claimed that another man, Kangwan Thephadchai, was his partner in crime but he had been able to avoid capture.

Wornkij’s noble attempt to protect Sumalee was ignored after a group of victims and witnesses confirmed her involvement along with the other two men. The two are awaiting trial and police are continuing the search for Kangwan.

Soda ??? At 5am - you gotta be kidding!!!

A Pattaya police sting operation uncovered a major methamphetamine dealer in Soi Moo Ban Sabaay Jai.

2,300 tablets - bitter pills to swallow?

Police officers were positioned around the area before sending in a plain clothes officer to purchase 2,300 methamphetamine pills. The deal was made but a few hours went by while the police officers remained concealed and the undercover officer waited for the agent to return and complete the transaction.

The dealer finally showed up and produced 11 small plastic bags containing 200 methamphetmine pills each. Police officers moved in and suddenly realising what was happening, the agent panicked and attempted to escape, but was quickly brought under control. Another small plastic bag containing 200 more methamphetamine pills was also found in his possession.

The drug dealer, known as “Eao” to drug users in the area, was later identified as Banchayut Chaisit, age 31, who confessed to selling the narcotics to young people and students in Pattaya. He told police he obtained the drugs from an agent in Chonburi’s Muang District.

He was charged with distributing illegal drugs carrying class 1 punishment and is awaiting trial while police continue questioning Eao for further information.

14 years of enduring Pattaya’s waste

Mr. Nong Mantham, the community leader from Moo 4 in Huay Yai, led 10 representatives from the community to City Hall calling on the mayor with a petition demanding the city to do something to correct the unsanitary conditions in their community.

Moo 4’s Soi Chaiyapreuk is adjacent to the Pattaya city dump which is nearing maximum capacity and now overflowing onto the community roadway.

The picture portrays the current situation at the Huay Yai trash site nearing full capacity.

Mr. Nong outlined the areas of concern declaring residents can no longer live with the stench from the land fill and the resulting disease that has increased over the past 14 years. He told the council members the land fill has developed into a mountain and the water source in the area has become contaminated causing sickness throughout the community.

The complaints have been made known to the city many times in the past with no response or assistance forthcoming. Mr. Nong said the community residents feel they have been ignored after living under these conditions for so long and believe the responsibility rests with the city administration to take corrective action. In the residents’ view, the problem belongs to the city of Pattaya, where the waste is produced but in the end the community of Moo 4 must contend with the resulting pollution and disease with no assistance or compensation being given.

Mr. Nong said the residents of Moo 4 came to a unanimous decision to take action, being no longer able to cope with the unsanitary conditions. The council members were told that starting at the end of this month, students and residents from their communities would assemble in mass protesting the on-going destruction of their environment.

City Sanitation Maintenance Director, Panya Jirapraseritsak, attempted to appease the angry residents with explanations of the plans in motion to close down the Huay Yai trash site and restoring the 35 rai of land to its natural state with 133 million baht in budgeted and borrowed funds.

The residents felt the plan sounded reasonable but it implied that Moo 4 residents had to continue living under sub-standard sanitary conditions until next year when the new trash site in Khao Mai Keo is expected to be available.

The council members told the representatives from Moo 4 that the city will provide a water truck in the interim and another heavy dutyvehicle will also be acquired to assist the one back-hoe in operation atthe dump site.

Whether the Moo 4 community will continue with their planned is uncertain. But it is apparent they will have to endure for at least another year under the current conditions and more than likely will have to rely on trucked in water for an even longer period.